Information Technology Services

IT Services

The Start Menu in Windows 7

Search

The Start menu includes a search box that you can use to find files, folders, and programs stored on your computer. As soon as you start typing a word or phrase in the search box, the search begins and results temporarily fill the Start menu space above the search box.
The Search box is also in every Windows Explorer window at the top.

Power Button Options

There are now more options on the Shut Down Window menu:

Shutdown – Closes all applications and Windows, turns off the computer.

Switch User – Combination of “Lock” and showing the logon screen for another user.

Log Off – Closes all applications and ends the session for that login. The computer stays on.

Lock – Saves everything including applications just as they are and you remain logged in. Allow another user to log on.

Restart – Restarts the computer.

Sleep – Saves everything including applications just as they are, but does not turn the computer completely off.

Libraries

In Windows 7, you can use libraries to organize and access files by type, regardless of where they’re stored. Libraries gather files from different locations and display them as a single collection, without moving them from where they are stored.
The four default libraries are:

Documents

Music

Pictures

Videos

The Documents, Music, and Pictures libraries appear on the Start menu by default. When you select a library, all files in the personal and public folders are displayed. Files in public folders allow read and write access. You can prevent others from viewing or changing files by changing sharing options. You can also create new libraries for other collections.

What has moved?

The Printers button is now the Devices and Printers button. This will display a list of all devices connected to your computer, including printers, faxes, monitors, and your mouse.

The Recent Items button has been removed from the Start menu, although files and programs used recently will still appear in the Jump List for the Start menu automatically.